New flag opinions please

[muddyboots]

I have actually have had this flag about a year. It came out of a flea market in San Antonio. Anyway I was wondering if I could get some opinions or a translation pleasehttp://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=3025199&stc=1&d=141368 5912

[Stu W]

Five kanji slogan across the top is here ...

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=493366

Regards,
Stu

[GHP]

Here's what Stu's talking about:

祈武運長久
Ki Buun Chōkyū
Pray/wishes for Eternal Fortunes in Battle

Flag presented to:
中村徳次郎君
Nakamura Tokujirō-kun

--Guy

[muddyboots]

Thanks guys it's nice to put a name to the flag. I had a feeling that was a name on the right side due to the bottom kanji. If anything else sticks out please let me know. THANK YOU !!!!!!!!

[GHP]

Apparently He Worked For "KanPai"

關東配電株式会社中山出張所
Kantō Haiden Kabushikigaisha Nakayama Shutchō-jo
Kantō Electrical Distribution Company, LTD, Nakayama Sub-Branch

A short Japanese Wiki article at Kantō Haiden says the company abbreviation is KanPai 関配（かんぱい）.

[Warning: Unpolished GOOGLE TRANSLATION follows]

(Genetic abbreviation: "Kanpai") A company that existed from 1942 to 1951 as the Kanto Distribution Corporation. It is a successor of the power company Tokyo Electric Light of Japan, and the predecessor of the current TEPCO.

History

1942, by the power distribution control ordinance based on the National Mobilization Law, Tokyo Electric Light, Kofu power, power Fuji, Hitachi power merged, Kanto power distribution had been established.

At this time, has been delegated to the Kanto power distribution electrical supply business by thermal power plants, Tokyo City electric station (now Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation) had been operated. Hokigawa power plant construction work Miyagawa Electric Light Co. in Yamanashi Prefecture, Fukushima lights of Fukushima Prefecture were launched in 1940, power electric light business of Kasukabe municipal electric utility unions in Saitama Prefecture, municipal electric utilities, Kanagawa Prefecture Hatano-cho, Tokyo City electric light business of Prince electric Railway, and power business of Mizuhama train of Ibaraki Prefecture, electric utilities around the country went been integrated into the Kanto power distribution.

As written, I thought the kanji were 配霊 Hai-Rei, which would mean "Distribution Souls/Spirits" which could be a funerary company. However, I cannot find that particular word in the Hiro Jiten (Japanese language) 4th Edition.

--Guy

[Nick Komiya]

The company was formed in August 1942 by merging several companies, and is what later becomes TEPCO, the company behind the Fukushima nuclear plant disaster. The guy who went to war was obviously an employee of the Nakayama branch office located in Chiba prefecture and it was his office colleagues that signed the flag.

[muddyboots]

Thanks for the translation and history lesson. Would this flag have been signed at a ceremony for a group of young men going to war or more of a party for one. I would assume a party for one.

[Nick Komiya]

Not during any ceremony or party, but passed around during work hours, as done today with birthday cards, etc.

[muddyboots]

Thanks Nick I have always wondered about that plus it makes more sense. On a different note I have what I believe is a Special Naval Landing Force id tag posted a little further down on this forum. Is there someone on the forum that might translate the tag and kanji on the back of the photo.